Overview & Reviews

Few cars are as instantly recognizable as the Mini. Loved for its diminutive dimensions and cheerful good looks, the British-born car has inspired passionate devotion both in the U.S. and abroad. The brand was briefly discontinued, but was revived in 2002 with help from BMW. Successfully paying homage to the original Mini Cooper of the 1960s, the reincarnated Cooper combines an athletic, BMW-engineered chassis with a space-efficient interior and a generous standard features list.

The history of the Mini make began in 1959. The original Mini car was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in England and its mission was to be a lightweight, agile four-passenger car that took up minimal space. In a sense, the brand was born out of necessity. The United Kingdom was subject to fuel rationing in the wake of the Suez crisis, and British consumers clamored for vehicles that offered optimum fuel efficiency.

The car was originally sold under BMC's Austin and Morris brands; the Mini name didn't make an appearance until 1961. Although it had just 34 horsepower, the Mini was the ideal urban car and proved popular in crowded European cities. In 1961, John Cooper, a man who built Formula One racecars, put his magic hands on the Mini and the result was the ferocious Mini Cooper. His Cooper S model had (at 76 hp) more than double the output of the standard Mini. That infusion of power, along with suspension tweaks and some really good driving, had Mini winning the Monte Carlo Rally four years in a row (1964-'67). The marque landed on American shores in 1962.

The '60s truly was the decade of the Mini. New variations on the car's theme came with the introduction of vehicles like the Mini Pickup and the Mini Moke, a vehicle that resembled a quirky cross between a Mini and a Jeep. The car's abbreviated proportions are even rumored to have played a part in sparking a fashion trend; the miniskirt raised hemlines and became emblematic of an era. Mini motorcars tore up the asphalt on the silver screen, with the brand's appearance in the 1969 film The Italian Job. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million Mini motorcars had been produced. Sadly, the vehicle was pulled from the United States in 1968, in the wake of strict new emissions regulations.

Though no longer available in the U.S., Mini remained in production in Europe through the '70s and '80s. By the mid-'80s, more than 5 million Minis had been produced worldwide. In 1994, the brand was acquired by the BMW Group. The marque went on hiatus in 2000, but was resurrected (and brought back to American shores) in 2002 with the launch of the entry-level, front-drive Mini Cooper hatchback. Thoroughly modern in every way, right down to its BMW-engineered suspension, steering and brakes, the Mini Cooper is sold alongside its cousins at BMW dealerships.

Today, Mini's offerings include various derivatives of the Cooper, including a coupe, a roadster and a convertible; the slightly longer Clubman; high-performance John Cooper Works variants; and even the crossover SUV-inspired four-door Countryman. With such a diverse, fun-loving lineup, it's no wonder that Mini has become one of America's most desirable small car automakers.

User Reviews:

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  Happy with MC; now trading up to MCS - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Ian Cull - October 21 - 2:00 am

  No problems after 8000 miles. 16" runflat tires make for rough ride over MA potholes, but fun and looks compensate.

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  a hoot to drive - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By james slezak - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I was looking for the car that would be the most fun to drive for $20,000 and I found it. The controls fall readily to hand and offer the right kind of feedback. The engine pulls strongly from 3000 rpm to redline although I rarely rev past 6000. The brakes are super although a little darty on uneven surfaces. Selecting gears is a pleasure. And cornering is just incredible. In 2002 I bought my Minin BMW and had as much fun as I had with my 1970 2002 BMW.

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  Totally Fun!!!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Chuckie - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I was in the market for a new car when its stylish looks caught my eye. 2 minutes into the test drive and I knew I had to have a Cooper S that day. No car I have ever driven is tighter around a turn. Better acceleration than I expected from a small car. Comfortable (LOVE those heated seats). Seats hug you when accelerating around a bend. Plenty of front seat room. Engine purrs. Brakes great. Cant drive it enough... Wish I had a longer commute to work. Go with the S version. Worth it. Fun!!!

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  Totally Fun!!!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By chuckie - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I was in the market for a new car when its stylish looks caught my eye. 2 minutes into the test drive and I knew I had to have a Cooper S that day. No car I have ever driven is tighter around a turn. Better acceleration than I expected from a small car. Comfortable (LOVE those heated seats). Seats hug you when accelerating around a bend. Plenty of front seat room. Engine purrs. Brakes great. Cant drive it enough... Wish I had a longer commute to work. Go with the S version. Worth it. Fun!!!

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  Love it - Great value for the money - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By denvermike - October 15 - 1:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive. It spoils you. From the quick acceleration, to the continued power through all 6 gears, combined with sharp handling = tons of fun. Add in the great fuel economy and the unique look and its just a great car. And if aftermarket tuning is an interest for you, this car has tons of potential available for simple/non-intrusive changes. You can easily add 40+ hp without doing anything radical. Warning - the summer tires will do you little good in the snow; the car is just too twitchy. I purchased a 2nd set of rims and studded snow tires and the car unstoppable in the Colorado winter.

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  Happy Camper - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Joe - October 4 - 4:10 am

  The salesman told me it handles like a go cart. I concur. He didnt tell me to expect better gas mileage than advertised. I get 30 mpg around town and over 40 mpg on the highway. Amazing. Very happy with this two seater, the back seat is a joke which I was prepared for before I decided on this great car.

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  Dont buy one - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By minilemon - October 2 - 2:00 am

  This car had "de-acceletrated 4 times, going from 50 MPH on the highway to 20 without warning, cant make it up a hill, lost power in the middle of a busy intersection. The BMW dealer in SF told me that other MINIs have had the same problem and required the engine harness to be re-wired, but according to their service protocol, they would first do a series of software upgrades to see if that would fix the problem (that did not fix the problem on other cars, so why would it fix my problem? Their mechanics are not trained to work on MINIs, they gave me a hard time about paying for a rental car or giving me a loaner

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  Cooper S - Great ! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By greg_r_smith - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Love this car. Really no complaints - handles great, road comfort better than expected and build quality is good.

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  Feels like no other! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Andersona9 - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I just bought my 2004 Mini Cooper with CVT transmission and I love it. The car has a different feel to it compared to other cars I have driven. It has a nice punch to it when the accelerator is pressed. The interior styling is top shelf and very classy looking.

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  Expensive to Own - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By mnw - September 29 - 6:28 am

  I have had a blast driving my S. It is a sports car noisy and stiff ride but you would expect this. We removed the back useless sets and installed Seat deletes.